The "Ask a Durham Student" Thread :)

Manchester; you can get a train from Manchester Airport to Piccadilly, and then a train from there...either direct or changing at (usually) York. Not sure what it's like getting from London airports to Kings X though...

I'm clueless...where is Picadilly? Would this way be any faster?'

As a general http://www.thetrainline.com/buytickets/? is the best one but tickets will tend to be expensive if you're only buying them a week or so in advance

Do u or anyone else know whats the fastest way to get to Durham from abroad?

With my current airlines I can fly to either of Manchester, London and Birmingham...then which train should I go for?

As long as you're doing valid modules (first year ones that you fulfil prequisite qualifications for, as I remember, though the website will have more details), I think you just sign up when you get here. You'll also need to choose modules that don't clash, which you can check at the clash checker linked to on http://www.dur.ac.uk/timetable/students/

I'm guessing you may have got the tickets already or have a preferred airline but you might want to consider flying Emirates - they have a direct flight to Newcastle from Dubai. If you're coming from India and you can catch an Emirates flight to Dubai from where you are, that might be the easiest journey for you.

Thanks!



I have another question (to language students / people that know language students)

Under the module listing for the language module I want to do it says we only have 2 hours of teaching time a week, but when I put it into the timetable checker thing it comes up with 4 or 5 grammar sessions and 4 or 5 oral practice sessions, do we get to choose which we go to? Its just that a couple of them clash with another module I want to do, would I just be able to go to a different one in the week? thanks you

You'd only go to one a week...I think they're in small groups at alternative times. I don't know if you actively choose, but if it's anything like with chem labs you'll probably just let them know when you register what other modules you're doing and they'll assign you to a group that doesn't clash. Or if they don't ask about other modules, if they want to assign you to one that clashes let them know and they'll change it. It's like with my chem labs, some of the slots clashed with bio lectures/labs so they just assigned me to a group that didn't clash, no probs.

I'd fly to Newcastle - you could even get a taxi to uni if you don't fancy the trains. It's best to pre-book so that it's a little less expensive.

RE: Trains. Don't fly to Manchester; you'll have to use Transpennine Express and Transpennine Express is a pile of poo. Haven't used them that many times so far, but I've never had a good experience. Delays, slow trains, trains that split halfway along the route, crowded, and just to annoy everyone even more, an unjustifiable number of announcements...

RE: Trains. Don't fly to Manchester; you'll have to use Transpennine Express and Transpennine Express is a pile of poo. Haven't used them that many times so far, but I've never had a good experience. Delays, slow trains, trains that split halfway along the route, crowded, and just to annoy everyone even more, an unjustifiable number of announcements...

Thats what I'm thinking but my dad said Newcastle would be more expensive than getting a train frm London/Manchester. But then he has a history of bad travel decisions so I'm gonna make sure about this one...Newcastle is 12 min away right?

This is rubbish! I use Transpennine loads and they are fantastic, never had a problem and are really cheap!

Maybe I've just been unlucky, then! I must have just got on the wrong trains Although they definitely do go slower than other services - it's possible to get a Transpennine train directly from Manchester to Durham, but searching for the quickest train always produces an instruction to change at York and get on the East Coast line.

Thats what I'm thinking but my dad said Newcastle would be more expensive than getting a train frm London/Manchester. But then he has a history of bad travel decisions so I'm gonna make sure about this one...Newcastle is 12 min away right?

Flying would be so much easier than getting the train. The trawl across London to Kings Cross with baggage is a nightmare!!

If you fly into Newcastle airport, just find the Uni meet and greet people and get on the free coach - see http://www.dur.ac.uk/international/prospectivestudents/beforearriving/induction/durham/ for details.